Tobacco-packaging machine.



E. L. BRACY.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

4 uli, i 1 1"' 1151 A i 'A M MEA 11 anne/mko@ E. L. BRAGY.

ToBAGGo PACKAGING MACHINE.

.APPLIOATIONFILBD DEO.11, 1911.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. L. BRACY.

'roBAoco PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.11l 1911.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@Xn/huwen E. L. BRAOY.

TOBACCO PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.11, 191'1.

Patented Jan. 19,-1915.

.8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Glvmeooeo E. L. B RACY. TOBACCO PACKAGING MACHINE.

WPLICATION PILCD DBC. 11. 1911.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

l lil/3,

.MEET a,

E. L. BRACY. TOBACCO PACKAGING MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED 11110.11, 1911.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET G.

lll/lla!!! E. L. BRACY.

TOBACCO PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DI;c 11,-1911.

1,125,802, Pateted Jan. 19, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7- EA. L. BRAGY. TOBACCO PACKAGING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1l. 1911.

1, 125,802. Patented Jah. 19, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET Zware LE/"agg @ammo v 'C'. a y

@Hof/nui A' EDWARD L. BRACYY, 0F SCOTLAND NECK, NORTH CAROLINA. AESSIGNOB' T RICHARD i citizen of the United States, -Scotland Neck, in the county of aging Machines,

`insiITEi) STATES PATENT oFEIeE;

WEIGHT, or nunnAM, NORTH CAROLINA'v VroisvAc 5o-eminente MAcHINE.

Specification of Ltters Patent.

manet/i2.

T0 all who/nit may concern Beiit known that I, EDWARD L. BRAoir, a4

residing at Halifax and State of North Carolina, haveV invented new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Packof which the following is a specification. Y i n `My present invention relates to improvements in packaging machines and more especiallv to such machines of the class adapted to lill and pack tobacco in bags or other suit- -able receptacles,

. the inventi onA` is 'to provide an improved machine of this character embodying in combination a carrier bearing formers to which the empty bags may be readily and conveniently applied, means for transferring the formed bags from said foriners on said carrier to molds on a second carrier, mechanism for automatically introducing uniformly packed charges of material into the respective bags contained in said molds, and means for removing the filled bags from the molds to suitable receiving means after the filled bags have been closed, wherebv the operation of the ma-chine is greatly facilitated, the filled bags will possess the proper shape,

and the charges will be uniformly distributed and packed within the bags.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means for receiving and properly forming or shaping the bags or receptacles, such means in its preferred form comprising a movable carrier bearing a plurality of formers, such formers being pivoted wherebv thev may swing bodily into a position which will enable the operator to conveniently applv the bags thereto, and

means is provided for subsequently'swinging the formers with the bags thereon to a. position whereby such bags are transferred tothe molds of a second carrier, the formers being relatively collapsible to enable the bags to be easily and quickly applied to them, and means is provided. for subsequently expanding the formers to properly shape the bags and to retainthem thereon the molds of a coperating carrier.

A further object of this feature of the invention is to provide the formers withmeans whereby they may compensate forvariations in the. size of the bags, thereby insuring proper ,shaping of bags that are slightly and the primary object of i u larger or smaller than the intended size, preventlng breakage of undersized 'bags and Patented J an. 19, 1915. K i Applicatiozied December 11,1911. -Serial No. 665,077. i

preventing the larger bags 'from dropping from the formers.

A Another object of the invention is to pro- ,videq in a machine of this'classp, a pair of coformers to receive andshape the bags, and the other carrier bearing a set of molds 'adapted to receive the shapedv bags from the former, a plunger being provided which is operative through each yformer of the first carrier and transfers the shaped bag from the former to thev mold, the carriers and;

.vide means for, uniformly packing the charges of material and for introducing these packed charges in evenlv distributed condition within the bags, such meanscomprising in the preferred embodiment of the invention coperative pivoted compression members which when in one position receive a charge of material between them and when shifted to a reverse position uniformly conipress the charge. one of the compression members being also preferablv constructed to serve as a valve which controls the siippl.` of material to the compression space between the members. These compression members arealso provided with means to engage the edges of the bag adjacent to the opening thereof and when the compressionmembers are operated to compress the charge, the edges of the bag are opened and are clamped against eoperating walls of the mold whereby the bag is held securely and in open operative carriers,I one supporting-a 'set of Further objects of the invention are to provide mechanism for indenting the upper closed end of the bag or package together with means for shifting the bag or package into coperative relation with the indenting mechanism, and to provide -means for removing the filled and closed bags from the molds and for feeding the filled and closed bags along a runway where labels and revenue stamps when used may be conveniently applied.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certaln improvements, and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully descrlbed, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the claims at the endofthe specification.

In the accompanying drawings :-Fxgure 1 is a front elevation of a packaging machine constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig..2.is a side elevation of the machine as viewed from the right 1n Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan vrew of the machine; Fig. 4 represents a horlontal section through the machine below the plane of the former and moldcarriers, and showing the operating mechanism; Fig. 5 1s a 'topplan view-of a portion of the former carrier; Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of `the formers; Fig. 7 represents a diametrical section through the former carrier and showing one of the formers in position to receive a bag and another former in position to transfer the bag to a corresponding mold on the mold carrier; Fig. 8 represents a vertical section through the supply hopper for the material, the packer, and one of the molds, the packer being in position to compress or pack the material and the bag being shown in the mold and held in position by the grippers on the compression members of the packer; Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary sectional views of the coperative parts of the compression members and the mold and showing respectively the manner in which the bag is gripped and held in open condition and the way in which the compression members close the bottom of the space between them to form a pocket for the reception of the material; Fig. 11 shows in detail two different i vforms of plunger for the packer; Fig. 12 is a detail view of one of the bag holders or lj'ormers` and illustrating diagrammatically the manner in which the holder or former compensates for bags of different sizes; Fig. 13 is a detail sectional View showing the folding device for turning up the lower corners ofthe bag; Fig. 14 shows diagrammatically a bag holder or former in alinement with a `mold andthe plunger in position to transfer the bag from the holder or former to they mold; Figs. 15 and 16 are detail sectional views showing the plungers for lifting the packages into coperative relation with the indenting and folding devices; Fig. 17 is a detail plan view of a folder which is adapted to turn the ears under the package; and Figs. 18, 19 and 20 represent sections on the lines 18-18, 19-19 and 20-20 respectively of Fig. 17.

Similar parts are designated by the same `reference characters in the several views.

Packaging machines constructed in accordance with the present invention are capable of use generally in filling bags and similar receptacles with materials of different kinds. The invention is particularly applicable to machines for packaging toquirements of each particular case. It is to be understood that packaging machines embodying the present invention are applicable generally to the filling of`receptacles of various kinds, ,the term bag being used merely in a generic sense.

In the present instance, the machine embodies a suitable base 1 which serves to support the various mechanisms of the machine.

The main or power shaft 2 is mounted inl bearings 3 secured to the upper side of the base, this shaft being provided with tight and loose pulleys 4 and 5 which coperate with a suitable driving belt, and a hand wheel 6 is also shown on the power shaft whereby the machine may be rotated manually when desirable or necessary. The belt guide 7 serves to shift the driving belt with respect to the pulleys 4 and 5 and this guide is connecte to a shifting bar 8, the latter being operable either by a handle 9 which is pivoted to the bracket 10 on the base or by the handle 11 which is fixed to a shaft 12, the latter being connected to the shifting bar 8 by the arm 13. A- cam 14 is fixed on the power shaft 2 and coperates with aphorizontally reciprocatory member 15, the latter straddling and .coperating with the power shaft as a guide, and the inner end of this member is provided with a rack bar 16 which reciprocates horizontally in a guide or bearing 17, the teeth of the rack 16 coperating with a pinion 18 which is fxedon the shaft 19, this shaft being journaled in suitable bearings on a bracket 20, and a gear 21 is lixed to the shaft 19 and coperates with the rack teeth 22 formed on the lower end of a vertically reciproeatory rod 23, the lower end of this -rod 23 operating in a guiding sleeve 24 which is preferably formed as a part of the bracket 20. The shaft 2 also has a set of three cams 25, 26 and 27 fixed thereon, these cams serving for a purpose to be hereinafter described, and a cam 28 is also fixed to thepower shaft 2, this'latter cam serving to operate the .press as will be hereinafter described. A sprocket wheel 29 is fixed to the shaft 2, this sprocket wheel cooperating with a chain 30,- and this chain cooperates with a sprocket wheel 31 mounted on a shaft 32, the shaft 32 bearing sprocket wheels 33 which drive a conveyer which conducts the tobacco or other material to the supply hopper 34.

A secondary shaft 35 is also journaled in. bearings 36 on the upper side of the ybase 1,

and this secondary shaft is driven by suitable means from the main or power shaft the shafts 2 and 35 respectively, and a chain 39 coperates with these sprocket wheels and Iforms .a driving connection between them. A set of cams40., 41, 42 and 43 are fixed in predetermined relation on theshaft 35 and the purposes of these cams will be hereinafter described. A sprocket wheel 44 is also fixed on the shaft 35 and this sprocket wheel serves tooperate the mechanism for ejecting theV filled bags or packages" from the molds and to feed the bags or packages along the runway. The shaft 35 also has a bevel gear 45 fixed thereto and this bevel gear coperates with a. similar gear 46 the shaft of which extends through albearing 47 supported by the base 1, and the lower end of this shaft has a cam 48 fixed thereto andy this cam 4bearsan operating pin or proiection 49.

The' machine shown in the presentjim.

stance is adapted to receive previously made Vbags and the bag-receiving and forming mechanism comprises a carrier 50 which in the present instance is in substantially the form'. of a wheel and is rotatable witha vertical shaft 51 to which such carrier is fixed. The upper end of the shaft 51' exdtends through a bearing 52 and an antifriction thrust bearing 53 is preferably interposed between the hub of the carrier 50 and the upper end of the bearing 5,2 to sustain the weight of the carrier. the shaft and the mechanisms supported by these parts.

I l The bearing 52 is supported on a rigid standard 54 which rests upon and 'is secured to the top of the base 1, and the'lower end of the shaft.51 extends through a bearing| 55 on the base 1 and is provided below said base with a toothed wheel 56. The tooth spaces 57 in the wheel 56 are adaptedto receive successively the operating pin or projection 49 on the cam 48- whereby continuous rotation of the cam 48 will impart a step-by-step movement to the wheel 56 and to the carrier 50 which is driven by said wheel. The carrier 50 is successively locked in the different operative positions adapted to be occupied thereby, by a locking device which embodies in the .present instance a bell-crank lever .58 which ispivoted at the under side of the base on the axis 59, one arm of the lever bearing a roller or projection 60 which is adapted to enter each tooth space 57 in the wheel 56, and the otherf arm of the lever bears a roller or `projection 61 which cooperates with the periphery of the cam 48. The cam 48 revolves continuously, it operating at each revolution to withdraw the roller 60 from a tooth space in the wheel 56, the projection 49 will' enter .another` tooth space in the wheel 56 and thereby advance the wheel 56 one step, and the roller 60 will enter the next tooth space in .the wheel 56 and thereby lock said wheel in its advanced position, the wheel 56 being thereby rotated step-bystep and is locked from movement during` the intervening intervals.

The step-'by-step movement of the wheel 56 is vtransmitted to the carrier 50 which bears bag holders or formers of a number corresponding to the number of tooth spaces in the 'wheel 56, each movement of the wheel 56 bringing a former into position' whereby the bag thereon may be transferred to a. mold arranged to receive it. The bag-re ceiving and forming mechanism ofthe present invention enables the bags to be applied conveniently, )and after each bag has been applied, it is expanded into the proper shape. In' the present construction, the carriery 50 is provided with a set of circumferentially spaced bag holders andformers each of which is pivoted whereby it may swing bodily into a position "Which will facilitate the application of a bag thereto, and after the holder and former has received a.

bag, it is swung bodily and automatically/ into an upright position preparatory to thel transfer of the bag to the mold which is carried by a coperative carrier, and the. swinging movement of the bag holder and former is utilized in the present instance to effect expansion Aof the bag holder and former whereby the bag will be opened into the proper shape and `will be firmly held. To accomplish these results, each bag holder 'and former embodies a supporting shell 62 having alined trunnions 63 on its opposite sides which cooperate with bearings 64, these bearings in the present instance being part of a bracket 65. The bag-receiving portion of the holder and former comprises complemental sections 66 and 67, the section 66 being fixed to the supporting sleeve 62 while the section 67 is mounted on a pivot 68 whereby the major part of the section 67 may swing toward the stationary section 66 and thereby reduce the size of the bag-receiving end of the holder and former, the latter then having a tapered form as shown -at the left in Fig. 7 which will enable the operator to quickly and easily apply a bag thereto, and when the section 67 is swung in a reverse direction about its pivot 68, the bag holder will assume the shape that is to be given the bag and at the same time the holder will be expanded and, hence, the bag holder will be fully opened and given `the proper shape. In order to expand the bag holder and thereby open and form the bag, a stud 69 is secured to the section 67 at a point above its pivot 68, and this stud has a ball 70 in its end which coperates with a cam 71, the cam being fixed to the bracket 65 and is engaged byl the ball 70 when the bag holder is swung into upright position labout its trunnions 63 as an axis. After the bag has been transferred from the holder to the mpld, the holder is turned to aninclined position whereby the ball 70 disengages from the cam 71 and the weight of the stud 69 may serve to swing the collapsible section 67 inveollapsed position preparatory to the reception of another bag. Tilting of the bag holders from-an inclined to an upright position and vicev versa is effected automatically and at properly timed intervals by a suitably shaped cam 72 which is supported in fixed position by a bracket 73 which surrounds and is secured to the bearing 52, this vcam coiperating with the rollers 74 for the different bag holders. Each of these rollers is carried by an arm 75 fixed to a hub'76, the

' hub being journaled on a pivot 77 which is supported by the bracket 65, and this hub 76 has a gear segment 78 fixed thereto, the gear segment coperating with a segmental pinion 7 9 which is fixed to one of the trunnions 68 of each bag holder. Springs 80 serve to hold the rollers 74 in coiperative relation with the cam 7.2. To facilitate the operation of placing the bags on the bag holders and formers, a segmental table 81 is preferably provided, this table being supported,

for example, by the standard 54.

In using ordinary flat bags, ears are formed at the lower corners of the bag when the same is applied to a holder of substantially rectangular form` and in order to prevent these ears from being filled with tobacco or material when the bag is charged, means is provided for turning these ears up against vthe narrow sides-of the bag after the latter has been 'applied to the holders and formers. Such means embodies a folding cam 82 which is supported rigidly in stationary position by standards 83, and this folding cam is ofsegmental form and is curved to coincide with the path of movement of the lower ends of the bag holders as the latter approach the point where the bag is to be transferred to the mold. This folding cam has a bottom section 84 which bears against the bottom of the bag as the latter is carried over the folding cam by its respective holder, and a pair of parallel 4curved fianges 85 are provided the forward ends' of which are inclined as shown, these flanges coperating with the out-turned ears on the bag and causing the same to be folded upwardly and against the narrow sides of the bag. The folding of these arms is obviously effected automatically and while the bags are being brought to the transfer point.

After the bags have been properly opened and shaped by the holders as described, they are transferred to molds borne by a second carrier. This second carrier 86 rotates in a plane parallel to and below the plane of operation of the bag holders, this carrier being provided with a v`set of circumferentially spaced molds 87 of a number .:orresponding to the number of bag holders on the carrier 50, and inthe present instance, each mold comprises a pair of parallel opposed side members 88 and the space between these members-is open at both ends and at the top and bottom. The carriers 50 and 86 are so constructed and mounted that the bag hold-A ers on the carrier 50 are successively brought into alinement with the molds on the carrier vertically through the hollow bag holder and former and cooperates with the bag to push the bag downwardly off the holder and between the side members 88 of the mold.

l,This plunger is connected to a vertically movable cross head 90, the latter being guided bya' vertical guide rod 91 which is fixed to the base, and the cross head is operated by the vertically movable bar Q3 to which the cross head is secured. The rod 9l andthe operating bar 23 are maintained in proper position by a cross member 92, the latter having a bearing 93 through which the bar 23 passes, and this cross member is supported by the rod 91 and by a rod 9i. The mold carrier 86 is rotated step-bystep and synchronously with the carrier 50. In the present instance, the carrier 86 is rotated and a proper relation is maintained between it and the carrier'O by a driving connection embodying coperating gears 95 and 96 which are fixed respectively on the shaft 51 of the carrier 50 and the shaft 97 of the carrier 86, the latter shaft being journaled in the upper and lower bearings 98 and 99. After the carriers 50 and 86 have been rotated to bring a bag holder into alinement with a receiving mold, the two carriers are locked in such relation by the locking lever 58 and the plunger 89 is then caused to descend by operation of the cam 14 and the interposed mechanism whereby the bag is transferred in the manner before stated, and after the transfer has been effected, the plunger 89` is returned to elevated position and it remains in elevated position until the'earriers 50 and 86 have rotated to bring another bag into position to be transferred.

Rotation of' the carrierf86 brings the molds thereon containing the bags into position to receive the charges of tobacco or other material. The present invention provides improved means for compressing the charge uniformly and forA introducing the compressed charge into the bag in such a manner as to be uniformly distributed within the bag. This mechanism comprises a supply hopperS/l which receives the Atobacco I 104.which are in substantially the form of platens having flat compression surfaces. These packing or compressing members are fixed -on shafts 105 and 106, such shafts being offset outwardly with respect to the 'planes of the compression surfaces of the respective packing members. One of the packing members, the member 104 in the present instance, swings in an arc-shaped path below the bottom or outlet end of the hopper 34 and serves to control the feed of the material from the supply hopper to the compression space between the packing members. For this purpose the member 104 carries a segmental valve 107 at its outer side and the periphery of this valve is curved about the shaft 106 as an axis. When the packing members are in position to compress the charge, -the valve 107 will extend across and close the bottom of the hopper 34 as shown by the full lines in Fig.

8, and when the packing members are in open position to receive a charge of material, the valve 107 uncovers the bottom of the hopper andl the member 104 serves to direct the material into the pocket or space formed between the packing members as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 8. The

packing members 108 and 104. are suitably` connected whereby they may simultaneously swing toward and from one another. In the present instance, these members are connected by segmental gears 108 and 109 which cause operation of the packing members in predetermined relation, and one of the shafts, the shaft 106 in the present instance, has an arm 110 fixed thereto and this arm is operatively connected by a. link 111 to a crank arm 112, the latter being fixed to a shaft journaled in a bearing. 113 and said shaft has an arm 114 fixed thereto, this latter arm being provided with a roller or projection 115 which operates in a cam groove 116 which is formed in the ca m 28, the latter serving to operate the press at properly timed intervals.

The lower ends of the packing members 103 and 104 are provided with grippers 117 and 118 which, when the packing members are brought into compressing position, enter the opening in the top of a bag contained by the mold positioned. below the press and these grippers completely open the mouth Liam-soa of the bag and clamp the edges of the bag against the sides 88 ofthe mold, a secure connectionA being-'thereby formed between the .packing members of the press, the bag, and the mold containing the bag, and when thecharge of material is forced downwardly from between the packing membersI of the press and into the bag, there is no opportunity for the bag to become displaced and 1t 1s certain that the bag will receive the full charge, loss of material being thereby avoided.y In those cases where the edge of the `bagat one side is higher than that at the opposite side of the bag as shown dia- 'grammatically in Figs. 9 and 10, the gripper 117 will engage the higher edge of the bag while the gripper 1,18 will engage the lower edge of the bag, the gripper 118 being made longerl for this purpose. When the packmg members are opened to receive a charge of material between them, the lower ends of these members 'will be brought together owing to the offset arrangement of the shafts 105 and 106 with'respect to the compression surfaces of the members, and in the present instance, the gripper 118 will engage the lnner surface of the member 103 and thereby form a closure for the bottom of the space between the packing members. After this space between the packing members has recelved a charge of material, the packing members are brought into parallel relation, producing a compression upon the charge. By offsetting the shafts 105 and 106 outwardly with respect to the compression surfaces of the members 103 and 104, uniform -compression of the entire charge is effected and undue compressionof that part of the charge between the lower ends of the packing members is avoided, as it will be observed that the lower portions of the packmg members where the charge settles do not approach one another during the compressing operation. When the packing members have completed the packing operation, the compression surfaces of these members are in parallelism and they form, together-.with

the side members of the frame 100, a chamber which contains the packed or compressed charge. This chamber containing the charge is of substantially the same shape as the shape to be possessed by the filled bag, and while the packing members are in this position and the mouth of the bag is held by the grippers, the packed charge is transferred to the bag. This transfer is effected by a plunger which operates vertically through an` opening 119 which is formed in the top 120 of the frame 100, the plunger passing downwardly through the space formed between the packing members 108 and 104 and forcing the packed charge from this space and into the bag contained in the mold. In Fig. 8, the plunger for accomplishing this purpose embodies a stem 1.21 which is secured to'an arm 122 carried by the cross head 90, and the 'lower end of this stem has a head 123.adapted to bear upon the top of the charge of tobacco con- `fined between the packing members. In order to avoidaccumulation of the tobacco upon the compression surfaces of the packing members, a wiper is combined with the plunger, this wiper as shown in F ig. 8 embodying al body of felt or similar material 124 which is compressed between a pair of heads 125,the body of felt 124 fitting closely against the walls of the opening 119, the compression surfaces of the packing members, and thehinner surfaces of the frame 100, the pressure of the felt against these surfaces being regulated by the amount of compression exerted thereon by the heads 125, a nut 126 being threaded on the stem 121 to regulate such compression. To assist the felt body 124 in preventing the accumu lation of tobacco upon the surfaces withy which the tobacco comes -into Contact, a cup 127 is formed around the plunger-recelving opening 119 and a suitable number of apertures 128 lead from the cup into the said` opening. The cup 127 is adapted to contain a supply of lubricating material which is supplied through these apertures to the felt body.

A modified form of plunger 1s shown in Fig. l1 wherein the lower end of the stem 121 is provided with a head '129 which is adapted to bear upon the charge of tobacco', and a plurality of felt bodles 130 aire applied to the stem above the h ead 129, rigid metal separators 131 being lnterposed between the felt bodies and the Whole 1s compressed by a pair of heads 132 and an adjusting nut 133.

The plunger for transferring the charge of tobacco, together with its wiper and lubricating means, is not claimed herem but forms the subject-matter of Letters Patent, No. 1,099,114, granted-to me June 2 1914, as a division of the present application.

By packing the material so as to form a uniformly compressed charge having substantially the shape to be possessedby the charge when contained 1n the bag or package and forcing this charge bodily and while in uniformly packed condltion into the bag, the charge will be distributedevenly within the bag and, hence, the bag will be completely filled and it will retaln lts shape. In order to support the bags after they have been introduced into the molds on the carrier S6, a platform 134 is provided which ventionally forA automatically' closing the tops of the bags andfor indenting the closed tops after the,bags have' received their charges.- Theclosing mechanism for the bags forms no part of the present invention,

but it will be described briefly as embodying a frame 135 which is pivoted on a shaft 136,

the latter being supported in a rigidly mounted bracket 137, and the frame 135 caring downwardly through the table 102 and the/lower end of this link is pivotally connected at 140 to a pivoted lever 141, the lat? ter being pivoted to the base at 142 and cooperates with the cam 27, this cam operating at each revolution of the shaft 2 to lift the frame 135 into an .inoperative position and to permit this frame to descend and bring the folding mechanism thereon in coperative `relation with a bag contained in the appropriate mold orf the carrier 86. edect closing of the top of the bag, the bag is lifted in itsV mold so as to bring the top of the bag into proper relation with the folding mechanism. The lifting of the bag in the mold is effected by a vertically movable plunger 143 which operates through a guide 144'on the table 102 and this plunger is operatively connected to a lever145, this lever being pivoted at `146 and its rear end coperates with the cam 25 onjthe shaft 2, the cams 25 and 27 being so timed that the plunger 143 will operate to elevate the filled bag andat the same time-the frame-135 will descend to bring the folding mechanism into coperative relation with the top of the elevated bag. The devices on the frame 135 for closing the end folds of the bag are connected to the shafts y147, these shafts being a hub 152 which is pivoted on the shaft 136,

the arm 151 being connected to a rod 154, the lower end of this rod being forked at 155 so as to straddle the shaft 35 as av guide,

`and the rod 154 has a roller or projection which coperates with the cam 42 on the shaft 35, the cam just mentioned operating first to close the end flaps or folds of the bag. The devices for closing the side folds of the bag are connected to the shafts 156 which are also carried by the frame 135, these shafts being operatively connected by the segmental gears `157, and one of these n gears has Aa projection 158 which coperaties with the forked end of an arni 159, said arm being pivoted on the shaft 136 and 1s operatively connected to a rod 160 thev lower end of which is forked at 161 so as tostraddle the shaft 35 is a guide anditbea'rs a roller to a rod 163, the lower end of this rod 163 coperating with the cam 26 on the shaft 2.

After the top of the bag has been closed by suitable folding mechanism, an example of which has just been-described briefly, the folded ltop of the bag is preferably subjected to pressure b indenting mechanism whereby the top fol s of the bag will have a permanent set that will tend to retainthem in closed position. .This indenting mechanism as shown. in the present instance com, prises a. vertically movable plunger 164 which `is arranged above the path of the molds on the carrier 86 and is guided to operate in a stationary guide 165. This plunger is operatively connected to one end of a lever 166, said lever being pivoted on a stationary bracket at 167 andits opposite end is operatively connected to a bar 168 the lower end of which is'forked at 169 s0 as to straddle the shaft 35 as a guide, and this bar 168 has a roller or projection which coperates with the cam 40 on theshaftu35. Each bag with the top thereof folded or closed is elevated in its mold so as to cop-4 erate with the indentingplunger164by a plunger 170?l which operates from the under side 4of the carrier 86, this plunger being similar to the plunger 143 and is operated at appropriately timed intervals by a vertically movable bar 170, the lower end of the latter being forked at 171 so as to straddle the shaft 35 as a guide, and this bar has a roller or projection which coperates with the cam 41 on the shaft 35. Each rotation of the carrier 86 brings a filled and vclosed bag into position beneath the indenting plunger 164 and while thecarrier 86 is at rest. this plunger operates upon the closed end of the bag toindent the folded top thereof.`

After the closed tops of the bags have been indented, they are removed successively from the molds on the carrier 86. According to the present invention, the bags are ,removed from the carrier 86 by a horizontal ymovement or a movement in a radial direcjmembers 88 of the molds are open.- The tion with respect to the axis of the carrier 86, removalof the bags in this manner being permitted owing to the fact that the inner and outer ends of the space between 'the side mechanism shown in the present instance forelfecting the results'lgjust stated comprises an ejecting member 172 which is guided to operate*l horizontally in a'` stationarybearing 173 and the inner end of this member has ahead y174 ,which is adapted to lpass radially 'through 'thej space between the side members 88 ofeaclr,mold; The ejecting member 172 is operated by a. lever 175 which is pivoted to the I.under side of the table 102 'on the axis l17 6 and the upper end of this lever 175 is forked and cooperates with a'n operating projection 177 on the member 172. The lever" 175 at 'an intermediate point is formed with aslot 178 which has a ysliding 'engagement -with a wrist pin 179 which is fixed to a crank or Wrist plate 180 which'is fixed to a shaft 181. The throw of the Wrist pin 179 at each revolution of the shaft 181, which occurs while the carrier 86 is at rest, will cause the' head 174 on the ejecting member to move outwardly and in a radial direction with respect to the axis ofthe carrier 86, this head on the ejecting member bein thereby caused to engage the inner edge o the bag and to remove it from the mold by an outward movement, the bag being movedl a distance substantially equal to its horizontal dimension lfrom vedge to edge and the ejected bag will feed such other bags in advance thereof an equal distance, 4the foremost bagin the ro'w being thereby brought into alinement with the `receiving lend of a'v runway 182 along which the'l filled `bags are to be fed in a `flatwise direction. 'lhe feeding of the bags in a flatwiseY direction along the runway 182 is accomplished by a follower 18.3 which is slidable -in a guide 184 and the follower 183 is reciprocated at appropriately timed inter-v vals by a vlever 185,*the upper end of this leverbeing forked and coperating with an operating projection 186 on the follower, the

lower end of this lever being pivoted on a fixed axisv 187 and the intermediate portion f of the lever 185 is formed with a slot 188 in which operates a wrist pin 189, this wrist pin being fixed to a crank or wrist plate 190. Y

The crank or wristplates 180 and 190 are operatively connected by the bevel vgears 191, these wrist plates being so ,related that after the ejecting member 172 has moved outwardly with respect tothe carrier 86 to remove'a package edgewise therefrom and has moved inwardly, the follower -183 will operate to feed Hatwise a rowtof bags in the runway 182, the ejecting member 172 moving inwardly to its initial position and the follower 183 subsequently being retracted to' permit another package to be positioned before it by thenext` operation of the ejectin member 172. While the row of bags is being advanced in this manner along the runway 1.82, their upper closed ends are exposed and the operator may conveniently apply labels or revenue stamps thereto when such are used. The filled'and closed bags are delivered by the runway 18,2 to a traveling belt 192, this beltbeing driven by a roller 193 fixed to a shaft 194, and this shaft is driven shaft 35.

c'ohtinuously by a pullej7 195 thereon, a belt 196 which coperates with said pulley, and va pulley 197 which is fixed to turn" with the bow or leaf spring 198 which is applied preferably to the narrow size of the section' 66,

the two ends 199 and 200 of this spring being suitably litted. into the wall yof the sectionl 66 and the middle or intermediate portion of the spring has a tendency to bow or spring outwardly. After a bag has been appliedA to the holder, the pivotally related sections 66 and. 67 thereof are expanded ,or opened, and suchoperation causes the consequent stretching of the'bag to compress more or less the spring 19S, the degree of compression depending upon the size of the bag. The spring serves, therefore, to yieldably hold the bag. or the holder, especially whenathebags are somewhat oversize, and it prevents breakage of the, bags `which are undersized.

The grippers on the compression members of the press .are particularly advantageous when bags' having linings are used, the grippers in such cases serving not only to open the mouth of the bag and to hold the bag in position while receiving the charge, but such grippers operate to open the lining and to hold the lining closely and firmly a'gainst the walls of the bag, thereby preventing collapsing of the lining or entrance of the material between the lining and the bag while the charge is being introduced.

Instead of folding the ears at the lower corners of the bags upwardly against the vsides of the bags as described, such ears may be folded under the bag and means is shown in Figs. 17-20 inclusive for elfecting this purpose.' In this instance, a folder 201 is employed which is curved concentrically of the carrier 50 and is provided with concentric fianges 202 and 203 between which the bottom of the bag travels. The bottom of this folder has a tongue-204 to engage the bottom of the bag, and slots 205 and 206 are formed between this tongue and the adjacent flanges through which the ears of the bag project downwardly as the bag enters the folder. (See Fig. 18). The bottom of the folder beyond the tongue 204: is formed with enlarged openings, anda pair of reversely inclined folding cams 207 and 208 are provided which act on the downturned ears and turn theminwardly beneath the bag', these ears being held in folded condition durin over the fo der. f

I claim as my inventionvz; In 'a machine of' the character described, the ccmbmation of a carrier, a hollow receptacle lholder on thecarrier mounted` to swing-bodily int'o o ne position relatively to the carrier to receive a receptacle and movable bodily into a different position relatively to the carrier after receiving a receptacle, and means operative through the the further travel 'of the'bag hollow holder to'- eject a receptacle Itherej from.

2.. In a machlne` ofv the character descrlbed, the comblnatlon of a carrier, a vertically movable bag ejector, and a hollow7 t1on of a carrier, a bag ejector, and a collapsible bag holder pivoted on the. carrier and capable of swinging toward a horizontal position and collapsing to receive. a bag and movable into an upright operative relation with said'ejector.

4. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a carrier, a bag ejector, a collapsible bag holder movably mounted on4 the carrier, and means for causing the bag holder to vmove toward a horizontal position and collapse to receive a bag and to expand and move into ankupright position in coperative relation with the ejector.

5. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a carrier revoluble in a horizontal plane, a bag ejector, a collapsible bag holder pivoted on said carrier, and means operative during the rotary movement of the carrier for causing the bag holder to V.swing toward a horizontal position and collapse to receive osition in coa bag and to expand and move into an upright position in coperative relation with the ejector.

6. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a carrier rotatable in a horizontal plane, a hollow bag holder pivotally mounted on said carrier, means .operative duringr rotary movement of the carrier for causing the bag holder to swing toward a horizontal position to receive a bag and into an upright position to discharge the bag, and a vertically reciprocatory, plunger operative through the hollow bag holder while the latteris in upright position to eject the bag therefrom.

7 In a bag filling machine, the combination of a rotatable carrier, a hollow bag holder movably mounted on the carrier, a cam, means coperative with said cam dura ing rotation of `said carrier -for causing the bag receiving end of the holder to move outwardly relatively to the carrier and into one position to receive a bag and inwardly into a second position to discharge the bag, and an ejectorI operative through the hollow holder to remove the bag from such holder while the latter occupies said second position.

8. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a rotatable carrier, an annular row of hollow bag holders pivotally mounted on said carrier, a relatively fixed cam surrounding the axis of said carrier, devices coperative with said cam during rotation of the carrier for causing the bag holders to successively swing into bag-receiving position and to subsequently swing into bag-discharging position, and an ejector operative successively through each hollow bag holder to remove the bag therefrom while the latter is in bag-discharging position.

9. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a rotary carrier, a reciprocatory bag-ejecting plunger, and an annular rowl of hollow collapsible bag holders movably mounted on the carrier, each bag holder adapted to move outwardly relatively to the carrier so as to occupy a bag-receiving position in collapsed condition and expansible and movable inwardly into a position in alinement with said plunger to permit passage of the latter' therethrough.

10. In a machine of the class described, a bag former of substantially fixed size adapt-- ed to receive and shape a bag, and a spring attached to and eXpansible outwardly from one side of said former to engage the interior of a bag of a larger size than the former and hold the same thereon.

11. A bag holder comprising a former adapted to enter and open and shape a bag, and a bow spring attached at its ends to one side of the bag former and expansible outwardly from such side of the former into engagement with the interior of the bag to adapt the bag former automatically to bags of different sizes.

12. A bag holder comprising relatively movable sections adapted to enter a bag, means for expanding said sections within thebag, and a spring carried by one of said sections and coperative with the bag, said ing to and from bag-receiving position, said spring being yieldable to permit expansion of the bag-receiving sections.

13. A bag holder comprising in combination relatively expansible sections adapted to enter a bag, a bow spring carried by one of said sections and coperative with the interior of the bag, and means for positively expanding said sections within the bag.

14. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a movable carrier, a bag holder tiltably mounted thereon and capable of movholder embodying relatively collapsible and expansible sections, and means for expanding said sections when said holder is moved from bag-receiving position.

l5. In bag filling machine, the combination of a carrier, a bag holder pivotally mounted thereon and capable of swinging into bag-receiving and bag-discharging piositions, said holder embodying relatively collapsible and expansible bag-receiving sections, means f'or causing said holder to swing 75 into bag-receiving and discharging positions, and means operative automatically during the swinging of the holder into bagdischarging position for expanding the bagreceiving sections thereof.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotatable carrier, a bag receiver and former mounted thereon, and means for folding the ears on the lower corners of a bag on said receiver .comprising a support for the bottom of the bag, and flanges between which the bag travels during movement of the carrier, said flange being coperative with the lower corners of the bag. f

17. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a carrier, a hollow bag holder thereon, a second carrier provided with molds, means for positioning the bag holder on the first carrier and the mold on the second carrier in superposed relation, and va plunger operative through the hollow holder and into the mold to first remove the bag from the holder and then introduce it into the mold while said holder is in superposed relation to the mold.v 1 8. In a'bag filling machine, the combination of a carrier, a hollow bag holder thereon, a second carrier provided with amold, means for positioning said carriers in fixed relation whereby said bag holder,.will occupy a constant position in alinement with and above said mold, and a plunger operative through said hollow holder and upon the bag to transfer the bag from the holder Vto the' mold while said holder occupies a position above the-mold.

19. In a bag filling machine, the combination of means for holding a bag in filling position, pivoted compression members movable into relatively angular receiving position and into parallelism to form a packed charge of material and carrying grippers to engage and expand the mouth of a bag, and means for introducing the packed charge into the bag while the charge is maintained under compression by said members and while the vbag is held by said grippers.

20. In a bag filling machine, `the combination of means for holding a bag in filling position, a supply hopper, relatively movable compression members arranged in receving position to occupy an angular relation and movable into parallelism to ycompress and form packed charges of material,

- one of said members having a valve operation of means for supporting a bag in filling position, a supply hopper, coperative compression members o erative to receive and compress a charge o material between them, one of said members being pivoted and .provided with a segmental valve to control .the ow of material from the hopper to the cempression space between said members, and means for introducing the packed charge into the bag.

22. In a bag filling machine,.the combination of means for supporting a bag in filling position, opposed relatively pivoted compression members mounted abovethe bag and coperative to-form a pocket for the material when in angular relation and movable into parallelismjto eompresssuch. material to form apacked charge, and means gr introducing the packedcharge into the g. 23. In a bag filling machine, the combination ofi'means for supportinga bag in-lling position, relatively pivoted compression members mounted above the bag and relativelymovable into one position to form a pocket closed at the` bottom to-receive a charge of material and movable into a different position to compress such char e uniformly and to form a parallel Walle com pression chamber, and a-plunger operative` through said compression chamber for. Introducin the compressed charge. o material into t e bag. A

24. In a'ba filling machine, the combination oflmeans or su porting-a bag-iinvlling position, a pair rc compression :members having compressionfaces and supporting pivots which are oEset 'outwardly with ref- Q so 3- toicompress'-la' chargeliof materialspect to said compression faces, the lower ends of said memberscoperating toiom'n.

a closed pocket tore'eeive Va charge Vof ma,- terial, an approaching movement prf said members servin to uniformly compress Aauch charge, an means operatavethrpngh the space between ysaid members whilem compression p ositionlto introduce the'com. pressed charge of material into :the b Inabag llingmachineytliefcom tion o'a'meld vfor holdingfa lliilg mien, and coperative compression memmounted above themoldand o 1ative themI and. to" grip and .lmld :the edges vofthe v,bagfinthemo d.

' 26. lIn a bag filling machine, the

tion of a mold for holding a bag in filling position, coperative members mounted pivotally above the mold and having grippers operative to open the mouth of a bag in/.the

mold, and means operative to introduce a charge of material into the bag while the latter is held by said grippers.

27. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a mold for holding a bag in filling position, coperative members mounte above the mold and having grippers adapted to enter the mouth of a bag in said mold and to open the bag and clamp the edges thereof against the walls of the mold, and means for introducing a charge of material into the bag While the latter is held in open condition by said nrippers.

'28, In a bag filling machine, the combination cfa-mold adapted to contain a bag, cooperative :memhers pivoted above the mold and having, ippers movable in arc-shaped paths and a apted to enter the mouth of a bag in said-mold to open such bag and clamp the edges thereofagainst the walls of said mold, means for introducing a charge of material ybetween said grippers, means for operating said members to compress such charge, and means for transferring a compressed charge of material from between saidlnembersto the bag. v

29. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a mold adapted to contain a bag, a movable carrier supporting said mold, cooperative compression members .pivoted above the path of movement ofthe mold,

ofmaterialbetween said .members tobe comv pressed thereby, and `means operable throu hpa space betweeirsadpgmembers for intro ucrng ftheeompressed --char'gelinto the ag. l .Y

30:v Jn a `machine ro-the class described,

thecomhination of a rotatable .carrier pro-V vided-with n.ercular row of bag-containingA molds.7 each mold having substantially radial side walls and being open at their inner andouter ends, means or introdcing bags into the tops of'fsaid molds, and an ejector mo'vhleradially ofsaid earlier. and operative thro hthe opensended molds thereon tocremove ags'laterally-iromisuch molds.

-.31^.' In a machine off'fthecharacter described, the combination of a carrier wheel revoluuble, in a horizontal plane, a circular rma of moldsthereon, each mold embodying opposed vertical side walls-and having an open topandz'inner and outer. ends Ameans irsDPPlyingbagsto-the'tops oi mo fand an ejector movable in a direction substantially radially of the carrier wheel and operative horizontally through the openended molds to remove bags therefrom.

32. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a carrier provided with a set of bag-containing molds, a runway adapted to contain a rowl of bags, an ejector operative to remove bags successively from the molds on said carrier and to feed the removed ybags edgewise and in a direction transverse to the length of said runway, a follower operative to feed the projected bags in a direction lengthwise of said runway, and means for operating said ejector and follower in alternate order.

33. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a movable carrier having a bag holder thereon, and means for folding the ears on the lower corners of the bag embodying a support for the bottom of the bag havingslots at opposite sides through which the ears may project downwardly, and devices beyond said slots and cooperative with the ears to fold the same during movement of the carrier.

34. In a machine of the class described, a holder embodying movably related sections adapted to enter a receptacle, said holder being tiltable bodily to and from a receptacle-receiving position, and means for causing said sections to collapse when the holder assumes a receptacle-receiving position and to expand when moved from such position.

In a machine of the class described, the combination of a holder embodying eX- pansible and collapsible sections adapted to enter a receptacle, said holder being pivoted to swing in a vertical plane to and from a receptacle-receiving position, and means for collapsing said sections when the holder assumes a receptacle-receiving position and for expanding said sections when the holderA moves from a receptacle-receiving position. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence'of two subscribing wit- 41 nesses.

EDWARD L. BRACY. Witnesses:

BEVERLY. W. SMITH, CLARA A. FISHER. 

